Why "Bridal" & "Traditional" Are NOT Helpful Adjectives For Your Beauty Look

We’ve all heard it before, “ I want to look like a bride” or “ She wants to look bridal on her one special day.”

We’ll there’s a lot to unpack with these statements which we’ll touch on but also these are flat out not helpful. I can hear the protests now, claiming we should know what this means and it’s absolutely an aesthetic. To those individuals I pose the question: “What does a bride look like?”

If I asked 5 different people I would receive 5 different answers even if all 5 of those individuals being asked were all having Western weddings. Some may say something like “ Natural makeup with earth tones and a little glow. A clean low bun with a spot for the veil.” Others may say something like “Sophisticated glamour with some sparkle and contouring. Full waves that are polished. “ Yet, others may say something like, “Romantic and minimal makeup with visible rosy blush and some sparkle. An easy, effortless half-up look and baby’s breath.”

Every single one of these looks IS BRIDAL. So if you say, “ I want to look like a bride”, I’m like—which one?

Photo by Tori Parker Photos

The better way to ask for the specific “bridal” look YOU want for YOUR VERSION of a bride is to use the adjectives I presented in the examples. These are adjectives that give us a direction!

Now, how about, “Traditional”? Again, I ask, “who’s tradition?” I can assume you don’t mean anything neon or “experimental” but assumptions can be risky. The funny thing about traditions and trends is that they cycle through. The trendy barely there “French Girl Aesthetic” some could argue is traditional because of it’s clean, minimal makeup. The word alone doesn’t provide any guidance.

Logistics aside these words are problematic. Why? Because they are clinging to the notion that a “bride” should look like some archetype of youthful, virginal, innocence propped up for the male gaze and society’s thoughts on how a woman should appear. YUCK! Seriously, where can I vomit?

Photo by The Rose Reflective

Ok, dramatics aside if YOU like the vibe that happens to align with something that could be assigned the title “bridal” or “traditional” but you like it for YOU- that’s GREAT! We’re all on board. However, if you’re doing it because your mom, grandma, aunt, fiance or whoever-tf said this is what you “should” do and that the look you wanted to go with isn’t bridal… we’ll then in my heart I have a finger for them, but I promise to keep that tucked away to my thoughts.

You should be able to look like whatever version of a “bride” resonates with you! If that’s a red dress or a smokey eye or a faux hawk or elven ethereal braids or a clean low bun or minimal makeup—that’s all dope! Just make sure you’re happy.